Muslim Brotherhood

The Muslim Brotherhood or Muslim Brothers (Arabic: al-Ikhwan al-muslimoon, full title

Egypt

For details, see the main History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt article.

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Founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, the Egyptian Brotherhood quickly became a large charitable and educational organisation as well as a major political opposition group, campaigning against political and social injustice and British imperial rule, and promoting a conception of Islam that attempted to restore broken links between tradition and modernity. By the end of the 1940s, it is thought to have had as many as a million members.

Related Topics:
Hassan al-Banna - British imperial rule - Islam - Modernity - 1940s

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With few exceptions (and none since the 1970s), the Brotherhood's leaders and members have demonstrated a commitment to a nonviolent, reformist approach to Islamism. (For details of the exceptions, see the main article.)

Related Topics:
1970s - Nonviolent - Reformist - Main article

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The Brotherhood has been an illegal organisation, tolerated to varying degrees, since 1954; it is still periodically subjected to mass arrests and torture. It remains Egypt's most popular opposition group, and continues to call for a more open and democratic political system in Egypt.

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